Oeville cooley



(No Model.) I O. GOOLEY.

TENSION DEVICE FOR GRAIN BINDERSV.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

I frwcn/ior M r Price.

PATENT ORVILLE GOOLEY, OF BATAVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHlSlSTON HARVESTEI? COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TENSION DEVICE FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

EZRECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,581, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed February 3, 1886. Serial No. 190,729. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORvILLE'CooLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Genesee and State of 5 New York, have invented a new and useful Tension Device for Grainl3inders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cord-tension devices to be used in connection IO with grainbinders; and the objects of my improvement are to provide an adj ustable springtension mechanism that will permit the passage of knots or other irregularities found in the binding-cord; also, by being secured to the harvester-frame the holes in the jaws through which the cord passes will form a cord-guide; and also to provide a spring mechanism so arranged that the cord will at all times remain taut in its passage to the needle and during the entire operation of binding the bundle. l. attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de vice in working position with a portion of the harvester-frame and twine-holder, showing the relative position of the parts. Fig. 2 is a detached View of the short grasping-jaw. Fig. 3 is a like view of the longer jaw or swinging 3o arm,showing the tension-springin dotted lines;

and Fig. 4 is also a detached view of the se-- curing-plate and stud upon which the device swings, with the operating-spring coiled about the stud and shown in dotted lines.

Similar letters refer to si milar parts throughout the several views.

A is part of a cross-beam of the harvesterframe, to which the plate E is secured.

B is a portion of an upright post of the har- 0 vester, and B a section of a tie-l eam of the said harvester-frame.

O is the cord or twine receptacle secured in a horizontal position to the frame-work, the twine [a being dealt out through a hole, 0, in

4 5 the end of the receptacle, which also acts as a guide to the twine.

The usual binding and harvesting mechanism is not shown, but can be of any well known form, so that the tension device can be placed at a point between the twineholder and the binding needle and secured to any convenient part of the frame-work of the grainbinding machine.

Passing now to the tension device proper,

D is a swinging arm pivoted to stud E on plate E, and having lateral projecting arms E upon either side near the top or pivotal end, upon which are placed a series of stops or teeth, 6, for a purpose which will presently appear. About midway the length of the arm D is a laterally-projecting stud, D, screw-threaded at the end and carrying the facenut d.

d is a lock-pin passing through the stud between the spins upon the head of the nut, and by which the nut is held from turning upon the stud.

d is a spring coiled about the stud D, one end of which rests against the face of the nut, the other end resting upon the hinged jaw F.

f are retaining-ears near the free end of the jaw F,between which the upturned end j of the swinging arm plays. This upturned end of the jaw part of the swinging arm is for the purpose of forming an incline for the passage of knots or other irregularities that may occa- 7 5 sionally be found in the twine, and thus prevent brcakage. Both the swinging arm and hinged jaw are provided with openings 13 for the passage of and guidance of the twine; but these openings are not upon the same horizon- 8o tal plane, the one in the swinging arm being placed above the one in the hinged jaw, so that the cord or twine in its passage through the openings will be grasped between the solid portion of the said jaw and arm that lies between the said irregularly-placed openings.

The jaw F is hinged at its upper end to the arm D, so as to allow the lower or cordgrasping end (by its spring) to yield for the passage of the cord between the jaws, and the whole partake of the swinging motion. As the cord passes between the j aws the proper tension is given the cord by the expansion or contraction of the spring cl by the out at, the spring being placed between the said jaw and nut. 5 This tension can be increased or diminished by turning the nut to the right or left after removing the lock-pin.

-Gr is still another spring, coiled about the stud E and made fast thereto at one of its '100 ends, the other end of which extends downward suiiiciently far to engage one of the teeth or spurs (designated e") upon the swinging arm.

9 g" are stops for limiting the throw of the Swinging arm, the one, 1 performing the twofold function of stop and securing bolt for fastening the plate E to the harvester-frame.

When in practical operation, the tension device will, with the aid of the spring coiled about the pivot upon which it vibrates, be made to swing back and forth, so as to take up any slack in the twine created'by the reciprocal movement of the twinccarrying needle. lhe force of the pull in taking up this slack can be regulated by moving the downwardextending end of the spring G so as to come in contact with a different tooth in the series, asivill be readily understood. Again, when my improvement is used upon the class of grain'binders in which the binding mechanism is" made so as to allow of a backward or for ward movement for the central placement of the band about the sheaf, this swinging fea ture of the tension device is of importance, as it will allow thcjaw end of the arm to swing forward with the advance movement of the binder-fra1ne,a11d in the same relative position therewith, while in the rearward travel of the said frame the operatingspring will stillkeep the twine taut, provided, of course, that the tension device is secured to the cross-beam in the rear of the binding mechanism.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the framework of a self-binding harvester, of the plate carrying the pivotal stud, the swinging arm having the cord-guide hole mounted upon the stud,

the take-up spring coiled about the stud and made to actuate the arm by means of the spring-extension interlocked therewith, the lateral stud upon the swinging arm, the tension spring coiled about the lateral stud, the tension spring-adjusting-nut, and the hinged jaw having the cord-guideholein the free end of the same and below the cord-hole guide in the swinging arm,whereby the jaws are adapted to yieldingly grasp the twine in its passage through the said jaws, for the purpose described, and substantially as herein set forth. 2. The combination of the pivotal stud, the swinging arm having the cord-hole and upturned end mounted thereupon, the armactuating spring coiled about the stud, the lateral stud upon the swinging arm, having the tensionspring coiled thereabout, the tensionnut, the nut-securing pin, the hinged jaw, and the retainingears f, all arranged-substantially as described, and for the purpose herein set forth. 3. The combination of the securing-plate, the stop upon the ends of the same for limiting the throw of the takeup arm, the pivotal stud mounted upon the plate, the take-up spring coiled about the stud, with one of its ends secured thereto, the swinging take-up arm having a series of teeth near the pivotal end for the engagement of the free end of the take-up-operating spring, the supplementary jaw yieldingly hinged to the swinging arm, and the cord-guide holes in bothj aw and arm,so arranged as to yieldingly grasp the cord for giving the required tension to the cord as it passes through between the jaw and arm, substantially as described.

ORVILLE COOLEY. \Vitnesses:

G. W. FORD, E. J. MooKFoRD. 

